Signal system



Sept. 27, '1932. F, A, Ebm 1,879,139

S IGNAL SYSTEM Filed May 29, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 1mm mm W] Sept. 27, 1932. c A: EDDY 1,879,139

SIGNAL SYSTEM Filed May 29, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 27, 1932. c. F. A. EDDY 1,879,139

SIGNAL SYSTEM Filed-May 29, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Sept. 27, 1932. v

4 sheets-sheet 4 Filed May 29, 1950 Patented Sept. 27, 1932 a swim.

Application filed May This invention relates to an improvement in signal systems, and is intended primarily to be applied to automobiles or other vehicles; 1

1 v both h t 1s desiredto signal e ther or )7 ii'oii t a nd rear,-the direction 1n wh ch the driver or operator of the vehicle intends to (1 when a turnis to bejinade. I l l -l e i' e tofore, signals have been mounted at the front and 'rear of automobiles but they have ordinarily been electrically. actuated, which results sometimes in imperfect control and uncertain actuation thereof, with the result that they have not been altogether. sat s H1 5.. it ig the object of this iIIVBIIlJlOII to avo1d the use of an electrically controlled slgnal and to employ a positive and thoroughlypract cal method of actuating the signal with an easily applied positive and direct drlve from the hand of the operatortothe 'front' and rear signals at the same time,1caus1ng the ndicat ''means to desi nate the directiontoebe iiidicated and in ghich' the vehicle is to be turned and with a feeling of certainty onthe part of the operator that when the control lever is moved, the signals arealso'moved to the desired extent.

' The invention may be easlly,

and

5 cheaply attachedto an automobile or truck and serves as an effective means for actuatlng thesignals,

In the accompanying drawmgs a Fig. 1 is adiagrammatic view-showmg the application of the invention to anautomobile Fig. "2 is a perspective view of a port on of thereto} I Fig.3 is 'atop plan view lever with the cover removed; 1 r Fig. 4 isa transverse sectional view't-herethrough; V j Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view 'onthe l ne 5-5 of Fig-4; f Y r Fig. 6' is a side elevation of the gear cas ng attachedto the steering column 1 r. Fig. 7 is asectional view therethrough V Y Fig. 8 is a sectional viewthrough'thetront signal indicator Fig. 9 1s a face view thereof;

. clamp, terminating at 'lo the Opera or.

of the control 6 s u Sh 1mml we n emnc l'eivesthe np er end o f-a;connecting nod 18,

owns 1. K. EDDY, or: roivnom qomvnorronriq: :1 1

isso. Serial: t. gassed li p ters iid" y I Fig, is asectiona'lyieW jtlierethrough; t

The nvention is directed primarily to "the .PrQYi iQn f s e a tf hef o and ba k 6f an autom bil tq indicate the direction "that i the driven intends to turn, and prevision is made for .theactuation of suchsignals m'aiifually, as I distinguished: from 'electrkall y;

'tlieo'perator from a'convenient position aisso- Jciated with'the steering'vvheeh'preferahlyl "f In'FigsLI and 2. the steeringwheelfofthe' auotmobile orlthe' likeis designated generally the steeril gqcolumn 3 is secured around 'byithe numeral While igsh'own" "A''lamp I theilslteerring col mn; while a casingA en and l ard y r and is seeuredlwlie its outer f end? in a quadrant 5 having upwardly extending 'stop. .7

6'at theoppositeends thereof, as shown 1n Flgs. 3and 5.} Disposed between thelaifnis sa'han lev f HP v d 0 th? set'screwf and extending outwardly from the casing 4Lv over thequadra-nt to within convenientlreach iThe lever may be. heldin a central, position byl-means'ofa p'in 9 having a wedge-shaped lower end 10in position to enter a notch 11in theupper surfaceof the v quadrant5; The "downwa d man r afspring 12'. 1] y.

"f Thel'ever7 hasagear sectoril3 formed at "the inner end thereof in position to" mesh pin 9 is normally pressed m y "with a. pinionilj l'ggfboth' of'whielfare housed within the casing'et; which is provided witlijfa f cover 1 5 to inclo'sje the parts; he cover being a steering column the invention appl place a screw 1 6 permitting its r m pini n;i4iisattachd to t e use. 15d

being connected therewith 1 means of a pin 9,. -6 end of W i h Pl llQF MlYQ V 'i ifs o s- 2 fQ m d i9 i i 'S il I "flared portion; of the stub" shaft This Y; f itating the connecting rom versal joint is connected with a stub shaft 22 journaled within a transmission case 23, the lower end of which transmlssion case 1s reduced as at 24 and received within a socket 25, where it is adjustably held by means of a nut 26 so as to permit of being oscillated at various angles and to be locked in such clifferent positions.

r The socket 25 is fixed J-tothe bracket or clamp 27 by which it is adjustably attached to the steering column 2.

Fixed on the shaft 22 are, beveled pinions 28 and 29 arranged in opposed relation, while beveled pinions 30 and 31 respectively mesh with the pinions 28 and 29 on opposite sides of the axis of shaft 22, so that the pinions 30 and 31v will simultaneously be driven and rotate in opposite directions.

Attached to the pinion 30 is a flexible shaft 32 extending through'a flexible casing 33, as shown in Figs. 2, lOand 11, the inner end of the flexible shaft having a forked tip 34 fixed thereto and journaled within the casing35 of the rear signal or direction indicator. The forked tip 34 receives a pin 36 carried by a stub shaft 37, which stub shaft 37 vhas .a pointer 38 attached to the outer end thereof in position to be movedfrom side to side Within the window 39 formed in the casing 35 of the rear signal. The stub shaft 37 is 'journaled in a bearing 40 carried by a plate 41 within the casing 35; .A second plate 42 is also arranged within the casing immediately behind the indicator 38 and may be suitably colored as found desirable. The casing 35 may also be provided with the usual colored bulls eye 43and illuminating means 44, which may serve to illuminate not only the bulls eye 43 but also the indicating arm 38,

or separate illumination for the latter may be provided.

Referring to Fig. 7, the. pinion 31'is attached to a flexible shaft 45 extending through a flexible casing 46, as also shown in Figs. 8 and 9. The flexible shaft 45. has a tip 47 fixed thereto, connecting it with 'a section or spindle 48, the parts of which spindle are adjustably secured together as at 49 so as topermit of relative adjustment, and

the upper section of the spindle carries an indicating arm, such as anarrow50, The sectional spindle 48 is journaled in the casing 51 designed to be mounted. on the front por tion of an automobile, as shown inFig. 1, and

to act as a front indicator- The casing may be open at theifront or at the top or both, and illuminating means such as the lights 52 provided to illuminate the casing and the arrow, as'may befound'de- V, sirable.

In the operation of the device, the lever '7 is attached to the steering column 2 and extends to within convenient reach of the steering wheel-1, so that the operator may manipulate the lever 7 without removing his-hand from the steering wheel. The lever 7 will normally be disposed in the position shown in Figs. 3 and 5, with the spring-pressed pin 9 in its lower position having its tip 10 re ceived in the notch 11 in the quadrant 5, normally tending to hold the lever in the central position.

A movement of the lever 7 in either direction causes a withdrawal .of the pin 9 and through the sector 13 and pinion 14, a rotation of the connecting rod 18, which turns the bevel pinions 28 and 29 and the pinions 30 and 31,-meshing therewith, which in turn serve to rotate the flexible shafts 32 and 45, the former extending to the rear signal and swinging the indicating arm'-38, while the latter extends to the front signal and rotates the indicating arm or arrow 50, movingthese indlcators to corresponding positions to indicatethe intentionon the part of the operiitfor to turn the vehicleto the right or to the 'This'causes a visual indicationof thedirection in which the operator is to turn the vehicle and, being manuallyoperated, it is positive in its action. i The actuation of the control lever causes a positive movement of the signal indicators. 7 V

The hand control and gearing transmission are so constructed as to be attached at any-desired point on the steering column and distance from-each other, allowing the gearing transmission to be placed below the floor,

boards of the automobile if desired, all by the use of a flexible shaft in lieu of the connecting rod, and in fact the transmission may be located at any desired point on the automobile. a 1

The transmission gearing is'also constructed so as to give eachoutgoing-flexible shaft an action independent of the other, thereby giving the proper direction of rotation and causing the frontand rear signals to point in the same direction.

I claim: V

1. In a signal system, the combination with a steeringcolumnfor an automobile, of movable signal indicators adapted'to be mounted at the front andrear of saidautomobile, op

erating shafts connectedwith said indicators,

a main drive-shaft, gearing connecting the main drive-shaft with the operatmgshafts, a transmission-housing enclosing said gearing and adjacent ends'of said shafts, a lever for actuating the main drive-shaft, gearing operatively connecting said lever withthe main drive-shaft, a housing enclosing said last-mentioned gearing, and clamps'for securing the transmission housingand the secondmentioned houslng to the steerlng column.

2. In a signal system, a signal indicator partitions disposed therein, a bushingfixed comprising 'a' casing, one or moreltransverse in said partition, a shaft operatively mounted in said bushing, an indicatng element carried by said shaft, an operating shaft, and a flexible connection between said operating shaft 1 and the first-mentioned shaft.

3. In a signal system, the combination with a steering column of an automobile, of movable signal indicators, operating shafts connected with said indicators, a main drive shaft, gearing connecting the main drive shaft with the operating shafts, a lever for actuating the main drive shaft,gearing operatively connecting said lever with the main drive shaft, a housing enclosing said lastmentioned gearing, and a clamp for securing said housing to the steering column.

4. In a signal system, the combination with a supporting housing constructed and arranged to be secured to the sideof a steering column, of means for actuating a signal indicator including a drive-shaft journaled in the housing, a drive pinion fixed on the driveshaft, a control lever pivoted to the housing in position to extend laterally from the steering column, asector carried by the leverand meshing with the pinion, and a quadrant car ried by the outer side of the housing and cooperating with the lever.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

CHARLES F. A. EDDY. 

